in which we camp

Firstly, yes I've changed the blog template again. And I can't promise this will be the last time. Eventually I will find one that will "stick".

We decided to pack up and camp again this week, this time at the Lakeview Campground in Echo Valley Provincial Park. Last time we came to this park this campground was closed, and we ended up in Valleyview next to the Drunk And Stoned Neighbors From Hell. This time, I am happy to report, we managed to score the most secluded site in the entire campground and enjoyed three days of peace and quiet and no neighbors. Bliss. Well worth having to hike to the nearest (non-running-water) toilet and the garbage disposal!

Above: getting ready for dinner after setting up camp

Sophia loves everything about camping, and while that can mean setting up is difficult due to all the "helping", it makes unexpected or difficult things easier to manage. Neighbours who want to party, for example, do not bother her at all and she happily does her own thing and pays them no heed. She will even sleep soundly through the music and yelling. She also is content to camp in rain or in sunshine, a trait which definitely came in handy last weekend, when we had not only party kids next door but a deluge lasting close to twelve hours our first evening/night/morning. Rain outside? Rain in the tent? No problem! Just put on your raincoat and continue having fun. Fortunately this time her resilience was not tested. Although the forecast had been for thunderstorms and rain the first night, and was apparently later upgraded to tornado warnings, all the dark clouds hanging over the park blew over as if they had never been. After the first hour or so, we had clear skies, warm nights, and sunny days.

Above: settling in for our first evening

Part of the fun of camping is the food, of course. We don't own a Coleman Stove, so everything I cook I cook on the fire. One of our perennial favorites is Chili-Lime Rubbed Steak from Our Best Bites. This time I wrapped sweet potatoes in foil and put them right in the fire for about an hour to serve along with it. The smoky note imparted by the fire was a nice complement. Usually we only go out for a couple of nights; I'd like to try some longer trips, so I'm focusing on finding or creating recipes that use foods that don't need refrigeration. A friend suggested The Great American Camping Cookbook, so I'm going to try to read that before our next outing.

Above: S'Mores!

Echo Valley has a beach and a playground right close to our site; Sophia enjoyed "dipping her toes" and drawing pictures in the sand for the tide to wash away. The second and third day were beautiful beach days: not too hot to be unable to enjoy the sun, with a gentle breeze. She didn't want to go home when we were done, so if we can keep on avoiding that special class of annoying fellow campers, this park may become a favorite spot.

Getting her feet wet

Enjoying a sunny afternoon